Ice-scoring machine



A. M. LEE

ICE SCORING MACHINE Dec 3%. 1924 Filed April 4. 1925 M %%M *f%.

Patented Dec. 30, 1924.

UNITED STATES AUBREY MURRAY LEE, OF COLEMAN, TEXAS.

ICE-SCORING MACHINE.

Application filed. April 4, 1923. Serial No. 629,910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUBREY M. LEE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Coleman, in the county of Coleman and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ice- Scoring Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in ice scoring machines, having for an object to provide an ice scoring machine adapted to so mark the blocks or cakes of ice fed to and through the same as will perinit of effectual cutting and division thereof into smaller blocks of uniform shape and size.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a machine of the character mentioned, employing means for effecting the positive passage of ice therethrough during the process of scoring in order that the scoring saws will be properly engaged with the adjacent sides of the same.

Another and equally important object of the invention is to provide a novel form of drive and mounting for the scoring saws, the application of motive power to such saws being direct and the mode of mounting of the same being such as will. permit of adjustment of the saws to different positions in order that the placement of scorings upon the blocks or cakes of ice may be controlled at will by an operator.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In order that the invention and its mode of operation may be readily understood by persons skilled in the art, I have in the accompanying illustrative drawings and in the detailed following description based thereon, set out several possible cmbodiments of the same.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a. side elevation of the machine showing the shield broken away;

Figure 2 is an end elevation thereof with the shield removed;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail in section showing the mounting of the saw upon the supporting shaft; and,

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4l-4 of Figure l in the direction indicated.

Having more particular reference to the drawings, in connection with which like characters of reference will designate corresponding parts throughout, I have shown the invention as being especially designed for the forming of transverse rows of scoring upon blocks of ice as they are discharged from a vault or other storage place onto the usual platform for loading onto vehicles. This particular form of the invention may be stated to comprise a frame including horizontal, Vertical, longitudinal. and transverse inter-connected bars, the same being so arranged and inter-connected as to provide a run way 13 along which the blocks or cakes of ice to receive the transverse scorings are adapted to pass; side or guide members 1a being arranged upon the opposite sides of said run way 13 whereby to prevent lateral displacement of the blocks of ice during their travel along the run way.

A supporting structure 15 is formed adj acent the intermediate portion of the frame of the device and has vertically aligned bearings extended laterally from the opposite sides thereof adapted to receive vertically dispose-d. shafts 17 in the same, said shafts being provided with elongated key ways 18, he purpose of which will be hereinafter more fully described. The upper ends of these several vertically disposed shafts 17 are extended and directly connected to the rotatable armature shafts of electrical. motors 19, which motors in turn are suitably secured to and supported upon the upper portion of the supporting structure. Thus, it will be understood that separate, independent, direct drives will be provided the several shafts 17.

A pair of circular saws 20 are engaged with each of the vertically disposed shafts 17, said saws being formed with hub portions 21 having openings formed therein adapted to receive keys 22 which in turn are engaged with the key ways of their respective shafts 17 whereupon adjusting and locking screws 23 are engaged in the openings in the iubs and turned sufliciently to cause binding of the adjacent keys in the key ways, thus effecting a positive connec tion of the particular circular saw 20 with its shaft 17. However, with loosening of the adjusting screws 23, it will be appreciated that sliding movement of the circular saws 20 along the vertically disposed shafts 17 will be permitted and in consequence,

that adjustment of the circular saws to different relative positions upon theirirespective shafts 17v may be effected, whereby to vary the placement of scorings upon the adjacent sides of the blocks or cakes of ice passing along the run way 13;

WVith a View towards providing means for effecting the positive passage of the blocks or cake of ice along the run way 13 and by and between the several pairs of oppositely disposed circular saws 20, I provide a form of conveying means, mounting vertically disposed shafts 24 in bearings 25 secured to the outer side of one side of the frame of the machine adjacent its opposite end; Upon these several shafts 24L, sprocket wheels 26 are fixedly mounted and receive thereabout an endless chain or conveyor 27, having a plurality of fingers or spurs 28 extending outwardly from the links thereof, whereby effectual connection between the conveyor chain and the blocks of ice to be propelled between therotating oppositely.

disposed pairs of circular saws 20 may be effected. I V

Fly wheels 17 are fixedly mounted upon the upper extremities of each of the shafts l7 and serve for obvious purposes. Secured to the opposite sides of the supporting structure 15 are elongated hood-like shields horizontal positions upon either of the sides of the supporting structure 15 and as shown in the Figure 1 areadapted to be engaged over the conveying'chains 27, thus preventing persons from coming intocontact with such chains and being injured thereby. These latter shields 24' are preferably' fixedly'secured to adjacent portions of the supporting structure 15 although it should be borne in mind that such connection is of a detachable nature so that they may be removed if required.

To permit the transmission of rotary motion to the conveyor chains 2'7, worm gears 29 are fixedly mounted upon the lower ends ofthe vertically disposed shafts 17 adjacent the sides of the machine frame carrying the conveyor chains and mesh with correspond 'ing gears'30 mounted upon the adjacent ends of horizontally disposed shafts 31 mounted in. bearing brackets 32 carried upon laterally extended arms 33 secured to the lower portions of the frame of the machine. Inter-meshing bevel gearing 34 serves to connect the opposite ends of the shafts 31 with the adjacent vertically disposed shafts and effect the propulsion of the cakes'or blocks office along the run way'between the rotating circular saws 20 whereby the latter willengage the adjacent sides or faces of said blocks of ice and form the desired scorings therein.

It may be here noted, furthermore, that this particular form of ice scoring machine is especially desirable for'the forming of transversescorings in previously divided blocks into stillsmaller blocks or cakes and to facilitate such further division of the same, the transverse rows of scoring are formed upon the opposite sides thereof. Thus, the blocks of ice cutting through the machine along'the run Way 13 will be arranged in of ice, which, it is desired to divide a v rtical position whereby to permit of the transverse scoring of the same. 7

Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of cons derable modification and such modification as is withinthe scope of my claim, I consider within the spirit of my invention.

I claim: I, .An ice scoring machine comprising a frame consisting of side members and a run way arranged therebetween, a supporting structure formed intermediately of said frame, shafts journalled upon said supporting structure, independent motive means.

directly connected to each shaft, adjustable ice scoring saws carried by said shafts and extending above said run way, horizontally arranged conveyor chains disposed longi tudinally of said supporting structure, the side portions of each of saidchains being arranged parallel to the adjacent sides of the frame and having their inner sides dis posed inwardly of the opposite sides of said frame, means for operatively supporting said conveyor chains and other means for operatively connecting such conveyor chains to certain of said shafts.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand. 7 V 7 AUBREY MURRAY LEE. 

